WIGO-Werkzeugdienst Wetter GmbH is based in Löhne and develops cutting tools for the metal and plastic processing industry. In 2024, the company commissioned the VGrind 360S grinding machine with a HC4 chain magazine from sharpening specialist Vollmer, primarily to manufacture special tools according to customer specifications. The sister company MAWE-Wetter GmbH has relied on the innovative products of machine builder Vollmer since its inception.
Since its founding, MAWE has specialized in cutting tools for wood, plastic, and non-ferrous metal processing, primarily using PCD tools. The long-standing close cooperation with Vollmer has created a trusting relationship that has proven extremely beneficial for both companies in decision-making.
The North Rhine-Westphalian city of Löhne has called itself the 'World City of Kitchens' since 2005,
as there are four large kitchen furniture manufacturers based in the 40,000-inhabitant municipality. Furthermore, the entire region of East Westphalia-Lippe is considered the center and heart of the furniture industry – nearly a third of the employees in this sector in Germany work there.
WIGO looks back on more than 50 years of company history.
No wonder that the local WIGO-Werkzeugdienst Wetter GmbH supplies about 30 percent of its tools to customers from the furniture industry. The other WIGO cutting tools find their buyers across Europe in metal and plastic processing industries. With its portfolio, which includes standard and special tools made of carbide, the company generates an annual turnover of around 3.5 million euros. Tools such as torus mills, full-radius mills, profile and step tools are not only manufactured but also re-sharpened, measured, and coated. The offering includes, for example, diamond-coated mills for machining graphite, carbide, and ceramic blanks, as well as taps and thread mills. 'More than 50 years ago, Rüdiger Wetter, the father of our current managing director Stefani Wetter, founded the company as a tool grinding shop.
Today, we supply our customers across Europe with precision and cutting tools for every task,' says Guido Rähmer, operations and sales manager of WIGO. 'The cornerstone of our success is our approximately 30 qualified employees and a modern machine park to primarily manufacture customer-specific special tools or re-sharpen tools.'
Vollmer machines have been impressing the sister company for decades.
Last year, WIGO decided to purchase a Vollmer grinding machine to advance the
production of its special tools. The sister company MAWE has relied on machines from the Biberach sharpening specialist since its founding and uses, among other things, a CHD 270 with ND handling system for the automated grinding of carbide-tipped circular saws. The company uses its Vollmer eroding machines to sharpen PCD-tipped (polycrystalline diamond) circular saws and tools.
The customer list of both companies WIGO and MAWE includes, among others, Germany's largest kitchen manufacturers as well as international furniture and machine builders, and extends to companies from the civil engineering, composite materials industry, or local craftsmen such as locksmiths, carpenters, and roofers.
'Not only the positive experiences of MAWE but also the over one hundred-year history and technological leadership of Vollmer have convinced us that we can optimize our production processes with a Vollmer machine to further increase the reliability of our tools,' says Stefani Wetter, managing director of WIGO. 'Specifically, we chose the VGrind 360S grinding machine, which impressed us with its compact size, stability, and functionality.'
The Vollmer VGrind 360S fits the WIGO company philosophy.
In addition to processing drill and milling tools, the Vollmer VGrind 360S meets all requirements of WIGO to efficiently and precisely process its special tools – regardless of whether HSS, solid carbide, or ceramic is used as cutting material. Two superimposed grinding spindles with a grinding wheel set at the pivot point of the C-axis enable multi-level processing, ensuring short travel distances and maximum precision. Thanks to different spindle variants of the VGrind 360S, WIGO can design the optimal spindle combination individually and thus does not have to make any compromises. A plate heat exchanger cools spindles and motors and
ensures maximum thermal stability – without consuming additional power and emitting waste heat. Combined with the HC4 chain magazine, WIGO can operate the machine unmanned around the clock.
'We increasingly use the VGrind 360S for the production of special tools to support our customers, especially with small batch sizes, with the highest quality,' adds Stefani Wetter. 'Thus, the Vollmer machine is an important piece of the puzzle to realize our company philosophy: We accompany our tools throughout their entire lifecycle and offer all necessary services from a single source – from production to maintenance and repair to recycling.'
The combination of manufacturing and services not only extends the lifespan of WIGO tools but also ensures greater sustainability because necessary raw materials and materials are conserved without customers having to accept a loss of quality in their tools. It is also significant for WIGO that Vollmer is quickly reachable thanks to direct contacts in sales and service and can ensure the safe operation of the VGrind 360S with high competence. This means that machine downtimes or delays in production processes can be minimized.
'That WIGO has chosen our technology due to the technical advantages of the VGrind 360S and the long-standing experience of its sister company MAWE confirms to us how essential a partnership relationship and personal contact with our customers are,' says Manuel Kruse, sales manager for DACH of the Vollmer Group. 'Although we profitably utilize the possibilities and advantages of digitization to support our customers quickly and efficiently, the key to a trusting and mutually beneficial collaboration lies in being present on-site. That is why we are also represented worldwide in 18 countries with subsidiaries and representatives.'
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